WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, the U.S. travel industry is sounding the alarm over the ongoing government shutdown, warning of severe disruptions that could paralyze one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Nearly 500 travel organizations and companies, led by the U.S. Travel Association (USTA), have jointly called on Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government. The coalition’s urgent appeal highlights growing fears that the shutdown could trigger flight delays, cancellations, and widespread economic losses across the country.

According to the statement, thousands of federal employees—including air traffic controllers and TSA officers—are currently working without pay, leading to increasing strain on airport operations. Early reports already show longer security lines, delayed departures, and rising traveler frustration.

“Air travel’s number one priority is safety—and while safety will be maintained, travelers will pay a heavy and completely unnecessary price in terms of delays, cancelations and lost confidence in the air travel experience,” said Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

The timing could not be worse. More than 20 million passengers are expected to fly during Thanksgiving week, generating billions of dollars in spending that support local economies, small businesses, and thousands of jobs nationwide. U.S. Travel estimates that 60% of Americans are reconsidering or altering their travel plans due to uncertainty around the shutdown, threatening the sector’s fragile post-pandemic recovery.

Freeman emphasized the broader economic impact of continued government gridlock:

“Thanksgiving should be about spending time with family, not worrying about flight disruptions or canceled plans. The damage from this shutdown is growing by the hour. Congress needs to do its job. The fastest way to restore confidence and restart travel is to reopen the government.”

Industry leaders stress that a prolonged shutdown could cost the U.S. economy billions, undermining consumer confidence just as the holiday travel season reaches its peak.

The message from the travel sector is clear: America cannot afford to hit pause on travel. Reopening the government is not only a political imperative—it is an economic necessity.